Related Articles

Aside from leaving behind an irritating, annoying bite, several species of ticks carry Lyme disease, a potentially devastating illness that occurs in both humans and animals. According to the University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the blacklegged tick is believed responsible for the majority of Lyme disease transmissions in the state. There are a variety of safe, nontoxic methods you can use to control ticks in your yard.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are used in combination or alone as an effective and nontoxic method to repel ticks from the yard. Lavender, sage, lemongrass and thyme can each be mixed with water and sprayed directly onto the grass. The spray is also an effective method for keeping ticks off your pets; just pay attention to your dog's or cat’s reaction. Cats are especially sensitive to stronger, undiluted odors, so use the spray cautiously if your pets spend most of their time outdoors. Reapply the essential oil in the yard as needed after a heavy rainfall.

Cultural Control

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, properly maintaining your yard makes it less attractive to ticks. The CDC recommends mowing the lawn regularly, stacking and storing wood in a dry area, removing brush or tall grass from the lawn’s edge, and installing a 3-foot-wide strip of wood chips or gravel between your lawn’s edge and a nearby wooded area. The sharp wood chips and gravel are difficult and uncomfortable for ticks to cross, and create an effective barrier around your property. Eliminating refuse -- including trash, unwanted furniture and old mattresses -- from your yard eliminates any spots for ticks to seek shelter.

Nematodes

There are approximately 20,000 different species of nematodes -- microscopic, unregimented worms that live by the thousands in your backyard already. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, certain predatory types of nematodes thrive in many of the same places ticks find appealing -- including burrowed in your lawn’s soil and under leaves -- and feed on the adult females. Nematodes are sold in small plastic containers or plastic syringes at home improvement stores or garden centers.

Beautyberry

The beautyberry (Callicarpa sp.) is an ornamental shrub with clusters of pink blossoms that later form showy violet berries. According to Mother Earth News, properties of the beautyberry leaves are believed to repel certain types of biting insects, including the deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease. The beautyberry bush thrives throughout USDA hardiness zones 7 through 9, and is best grown in partially shaded areas with loose, fertile soil.

About the Author

Residing in Chippewa Falls, Wis., Jaimie Zinski has been writing since 2009. Specializing in pop culture, film and television, her work appears on Star Reviews and various other websites. Zinski is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in history at the University of Wisconsin.